Antarctic women scientists put the heat on Wikipedia

The role of women researchers in Antarctica – and the discrimination that locked them out of the frozen continent for decades – will be highlighted with a “Wikibomb” this month.

Women scientists were effectively locked out of Antarctica until 1956. Women now comprise 60 per cent of early career Antarctic researchers, but account for only about 10 per cent of relevant awards, prizes and plenaries at scientific conferences.

The Wikibomb organisers are led by Dr Jan Strugnell who, with Thomas Schaffee, both from Latrobe University, have coordinated a team of 27 international volunteers to research, write and upload the new Wikipedia biographies.

Dr Shaw, who is also a Research Fellow at the UQ Faculty of Science’s Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science and a co-founder of the Women in Polar Science social network is one of seven signatories to a Nature article this month highlighting the important role of women in Antarctic research, despite their low representation.

She said leading palaeobotanist Dr Marie Stopes had been was rejected for Robert Scott’s historic 1910 expedition to the South Pole.